People with CFS to benefit from Griffith’s National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases

People living with chronic fatigue are set to benefit with the opening next week (Dec 2), of the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases (NCNED) at Griffith University.

The Centre will be opened as part of an international symposium on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) at the university’s Griffith Health Centre on its Gold Coast campus.

Otherwise known as Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is a highly debilitating disorder characterised by profound fatigue, muscle and joint pain, cerebral symptoms of impaired memory and concentration, impaired cardiovascular function, gut disorder and sensory dysfunction such as noise intolerance and balance disturbance. Many cases can continue for months or years. It is believed to affect around 250,000 Australians.

The new centre is dedicated to research on the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system and is led by one of Australia’s foremost authorities on CFS/ME Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik.

“The NCNED heralds a higher level in Griffith’s capacity for state-of-the-art neuro-immunological research in the context of nervous system disorders,” she says. “These disorders are a major cause of neurological disability in Australia.”

She says she is overwhelmed by the support the community has shown towards the research so far. “Our patients have shown enormous courage in the trajectory of their illness and have contributed greatly to our research through their participation in scientific studies.”

Developments at the Centre are expected to be extended in February 2014 with the opening of a specialised CFS Clinic. The integrated facility will provide treatment to anybody living with the condition and will build on the research being conducted with participants which has shown a strong association between the condition and a dysfunctional immune system.

“We now have the capacity, not only for advanced research but also the potential to provide a clinical service to people who have been unable to find appropriate care in the past,” says Professor Marshall-Gradisnik. “Our research is leading the way internationally to uncover the causes of this illness and the search for effective treatments based on our unique immunological discoveries.”

Gold Coast Health Board Chair Mr Ian Langdon said he was pleased to enhance the research capacity at NCNED by a contribution to the purchase of new flow cytometry equipment, one of only two currently in Australia to ensure this research centre remains at the forefront of this research area.

“It is important that the NCNED receives support to purchase such technology from partners like Gold Coast Health as it will benefit local community members in a way previously unavailable to them.”

Allied government mindfully left the "ID" out of CF(ID)S to create the silly, belittling Orwellian name, "CFS."

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) is a disease, just like malaria or MS ~ with specific hallmark diagnostic biomarkers.

CFIDS is AIDS-like (syndromes)
ME is MS-like (diseases)

"CFS/ME" is not interchangeable, or accurate.

ME patients do not have CFIDS. While many do, not all CFS patients qualify for a ME diagnosis (by International Consensus Criteria (ICC)).

Just like a CFSer cannot just wake-up and decide "hey, I have malaria." A CFSer cannot just wake-up and arbitrarily decide that they have ME. Until the day comes when a doctor diagnoses you with ME, then you have CFS --> a syndrome.

A CFSer stating that they have ME is the equivalent of an AIDS patient stating that they have MS ---> it is wrong

Syndrome or disease, patients suffer and die of both.

E.g., AIDS (syndrome) patients die all the time.

People ignorantly talk about AIDS like its one thing, but by present-day definition, there are 29 separate and distinct DISEASES under the AIDS SYNDROME umbrella (everything from TB, malaria to lung and cervical cancers); Only every 29th AIDS patient is alike.

There have to be 29 types of CFS. {1 type being ME}
There is only one type of ME.

CF(ID)S & ME will never be the same, because diseases and syndromes are two different things.

This is such exciting news. Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik and team have been doing leading research for years, including partnering with Dr Peterson in the US. She was the first to do research on severe patients. Having a patient clinic attached to the research center now, not only is fantastic for patients, to receive such cutting-edge treatment, but also sets the model of care for the rest of the world. Well done Griffith Uni and Australia!

One problem that needs to be corrected is that the first sentence refers to" People living with chronic fatigue". 'Chronic fatigue' is a symptom of many diseases such as cancer, and does not appropriately reflect the serious nature of the disease, which is one of the reasons that the US developed name is so disliked and most members of the ME ("CFS") community want to get rid of it.

News-Medical.Net provides this medical information service in accordance
with these terms and conditions.
Please note that medical information found
on this website is designed to support, not to replace the relationship
between patient and physician/doctor and the medical advice they may provide.

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
Find out more here.